The first steel column for the basement of the Chengdu Greenland Center Shufeng 468 super high-rise project (hereinafter “Greenland 468”) has been successfully lifted. This skyscraper, the world’s seventh tallest and tallest in western China, is developed by Greenland Group, contracted by China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Group Co., Ltd., and installed by China Construction Steel Structure Co., Ltd. The lifting marks the official start of the steel structure phase, involving approximately 52,000 tons of steel. This milestone follows the commencement of the main body construction, the successful seismic exceedance review of the T2/T3 towers, and the official start of the main structure work. Workers are diligently advancing the project, accelerating the construction of the “tallest building in the west.”
Steel Structure Hoisting
Overcoming Multiple Challenges
“I hereby announce the official start of the steel structure project!” said the on-site manager yesterday morning at the Greenland 468 foundation pit construction site. With the sound of the whistle, a crane with a 100-ton lifting capacity slowly raised a massive steel structure, officially launching the 52,000-ton steel structure phase.
The steel structure installation in the basement will last about four months and faces numerous challenges, including cross-operation, handling overweight components, and working within a tight site, explained the technical director on site. Given the building’s height of 468 meters—comprising 5 underground floors and 101 stories above ground—the construction demands are immense.
The overall building is a hybrid structure featuring a “giant outer slant support frame outrigger core tube.” The steel framework includes massive outer frame columns, large slant supports, outrigger trusses, steel plate shear walls, and floor steel beams. To meet stringent construction standards, some steel plates reach up to 120 mm in thickness, which is rare in building steel. The heaviest T-shaped joints weigh approximately 95 tons, while the largest steel members weigh around 45 tons. Due to their size and complexity, these components present exceptional challenges in manufacturing, installation, and welding, making them among the most demanding in China’s super high-rise sector.
“This area houses the core tube. Within just 700 square meters, we plan to install 59 vertical elevators, requiring unified equipment scheduling and careful coordination of construction progress,” said Fan Wenjun, project director of the Southwest Business Unit’s first regional center at Greenland Group Chengdu Company. He pointed to a densely packed row of ground piles, adding that after lifting and welding, X-ray inspections will verify the weld quality. The company has provided strong technical, personnel, and material support to accelerate construction. Soon, the Greenland 468 project will rise above the skyline, greeting the world with a commanding presence.
Breaking Records
Driving the Development of Chengdu’s New Landmark
The start of steel structure construction represents another critical milestone for Greenland 468. Prior to the New Year, the project successfully passed major benchmarks including seismic exceedance review and foundation pit pouring. Construction is advancing rapidly according to schedule.
Zhang Zhidong, Deputy General Manager of the Southwest Real Estate Division at Greenland Investment Group Chengdu Company, told reporters that Greenland 468 is on track to reach structural “zero level” (ground level) by July this year. The building is expected to reach 200 meters above ground by the end of next year, with full topping out scheduled for 2018 and complete operation by 2019.
“Once a building surpasses 400 meters, construction complexity and technical demands become very high,” Zhang noted. “We strictly control every stage of the 468-meter ‘Shufeng Iron Bone’ from structural design and modeling to material procurement, manufacturing, flaw detection, inspection, and on-site installation. Every detail meets the standards of a landmark building.”
At the Chengdu Greenland Center project department, the BIM (Building Information Modeling) office is working intensively. They are organizing deformation control tests on curtain wall solid samples, verifying them at a 1:1 scale. The construction will also use some of the world’s most advanced tower cranes, capable of installing four cranes on one platform, which will significantly save time during operations.
Fan Wenjun, busy reviewing reports, shared these insights with the reporter, highlighting the project’s technological sophistication.
Beyond the 468-meter skyscraper, the entire Chengdu Greenland Center complex is taking shape. The largest Ito store in Asia (90,000 square meters), located on plot 4, has topped out and is undergoing intense renovations. It is scheduled for delivery in June next year and opening to customers by October. The commercial street on plot 5 has reached ground level and is expected to be fully completed by October next year. Plot 6 will be delivered in May this year, while plot 7 has already topped out.
With world-class landmark facilities such as international Grade A offices, five-star hotels, and sky clubs, the Chengdu Greenland Center is breaking multiple records. The accelerated development of this “Chengdu New Landmark” will not only drive the growth of the modern service industry in the city’s east but also revitalizes the urban quality of the area, speeding Chengdu’s rise as an international metropolis.
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